Sources in AIFF said that as many as five clubs, including Bengaluru FC and Pune FC, have expressed their willingness to be part of the venture. Other three are I-league outfit Shillong Lajong FC, newly-formed Bharat FC and Wayanad Football Club.

The Shillong outfit exploited the numerical advantage beautifully with Trinidad and Tobago recruit Glen (16th, 43rd and 74th) firing in a treble, while Subash Singh completing the Mohammedan misery with a double (29th and 69th).

Two first-half goals by Sunil Chhetri, the India skipper, set up Bengaluru FC's victory as the hosts saw off a late surge by Lajong, who drew some consolation through an 81st minute strike by Boithang Haokip as the visitors slipped to their third ...

Shillong Lajong are placed at number six in the table with nine points while Churchill Brothers earned three points from six matches and are placed at the relegation zone along with bottom most Rangdajied FC.

Gurung, who hails from Sikkim, played for ONGC from 2010-13. The 20-year-old defender will look to add depth to the Lajong backline. Singh played for I-League champions Churchill Brothers from 2008-11 before joining Salgaocar SC.

Their I-League hopes might have been dashed but East Bengal remained in contention to finish runners-up whipping United Sikkim FC by a tennis score margin of 6-0 in a penultimate round fixture here on Wednesday.

Pune FC though have four more matches left in the competition. Both the teams wasted chances in the first 10 minutes before Lajong conceded a penalty when goalkeeper Lalthuammawia Ralte brought down Kayne Vincent inside the box in the 17th minute.